Kimmie Rhodes

The Austin Chronicle calls Kimmie Rhodes is a “prolific figure in Texas Music.” The Austin-based singer-songwriter has released 19 solo albums; written and produced three musical plays; published a novella/cookbook a memoir and a songbook. She blends these unique skills and captivates audiences on stages around the world, and in intimate group settings. A native Texan, she was raised in Lubbock, where she cultivated the spirited mix of talent and determination that still fuels her success. Kimmie was inducted into The West Texas Walk of Fame for her “outstanding contributions in the field of art music and entertainment” on September 28, 2023. 

Kimmie’s 1996 album, West Texas Heaven, released to critical acclaim, featured twelve of her original songs and included duets with Waylon Jennings, Townes Van Zandt, and Willie Nelson. USA Today said, “listening to West Texas Heaven is like a sweet unhurried ramble through bluebonnets,” picking the album for their “Best Bets” section. USA Today later picked the album as one of the “Top Ten Country Records” of that year saying “… a voice like fine dry wine and imagery as sharp as steel.” British Vogue Magazine said, “This is a voice you can listen to all day.” Country Music People reviewed it saying, “… multi-layered with meaning and emotion, the writing craft flawless, this is wonderful work, just wonderful.”

Now the album has been re-mixed and remastered along with several special bonus outtakes from the original sessions along with a duet with Emmylou Harris “Send Me the Sun” and a Waylon Jennings co-write “Lines.” The album, West Texas Heaven Revisited is scheduled for a special commemorative release in the spring of 2025 along with a new companion songbook, West Texas Heaven Revisited – The Stories and Songs. It includes her personal collection of pictures, archival images, sheet music with lyrics and guitar chord charts as well as intimate accounts as to why she was inspired to write the songs and shared stories on the sessions and the fortuitous circumstances that led her to recording with her Americana heroes. 

Kimmie has developed a unique songwriting-storyteller show, “The Songs & Stories of West Texas Heaven – An Evening with Kimmie Rhodes” to celebrate the special release of the album and songbook with dates for exclusive shows including a cruise, conferences, and festivals as well as a limited number of her very successful house concert series events.

A  “songwriter’s songwriter” truly describes Kimmie, as is evidenced by people who have sought her out to co-write with her and recorded her songs. She has written many multi-platinum songs, recorded by such stellar artists as Willie Nelson, Wynonna Judd, Trisha Yearwood, Amy Grant, CeCe Winans, Joe Ely, Waylon Jennings, Peter Frampton, Mark Knopfler, Emmylou Harris, and others.

Kimmie’s promotional tours have created a solid fan base in the UK, Ireland, and across Europe. She has headlined with her band at festivals all over the world and has appeared on many European and American TV and radio broadcasts. She has also appeared at Willie’s Farm Aid concerts and 4th of July Picnics. Willie dubbed Kimmie “an undiscovered superstar” and together they recorded two of her originals for his album, Just One Love, and a duet album, Picture in a Frame.

Kimmie’s lengthy discography looks like a who’s who of American musicians and songwriters, featuring duets with Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Joe Ely, Rodney Crowell, Townes Van Zandt, Gillian Welch, Marcia Ball, Alejandro Escovado and others, and includes co-writes with Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings, Beth Nielson-Chapman, and many other well-known international songwriters.

Kimmie appeared on Austin City Limits with Emmylou Harris, Dave Mathews, Patty Griffin, and Buddy & Julie Miller, where she and Emmylou performed their song “Love & Happiness for You.” She guested on Late Night with David Letterman, performing “West Texas Heaven” at his request. Kimmie’s TV appearances also include a songwriter “guitar pull” Austin City Limits show with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, and Billy Joe Shaver; two segments of The Nashville Network’s Legend Series hosted by Willie Nelson, and another segment hosted by Waylon Jennings.

Waylon said, “When I hear Kimmie sing it makes me know what the phrase ‘pulling on your heart strings’ means.” Kimmie co-wrote “Lines,” with Waylon for his Justice release, Right for The Time.  At her own Sunbird Studios, Rhodes has hosted some of the Austin’s finest singer-songwriters to film a segment of Bob Harris’ iconic Back To series for WBBC-TV. 

Kimmie’s movie soundtrack credits include “A Heart That’s True” for the Babe: A Pig in the City album; “I’m Not an Angel” featured in the soundtrack of Mrs. Winterbourne; and “What A Love’s Supposed to Be” in the Daddy’s Dyin’ Who’s Got the Will soundtrack. Her song “Shine All Your Light,” co-written with Beth Nielsen Chapman, was recorded by Amy Grant for the Touched by an Angel TV series soundtrack and album release, which reached the Top Ten in Billboard’s charts. Kimmie co-wrote “Ordinary Heart” with Emmylou Harris, which was featured in the soundtrack to the movie, Happy Texas. Emmylou’s performance of the song was nominated for a Grammy®. 

A playwright and actress as well, Kimmie’s debut theatrical project was her musical, Small Town Girl, directed by and starring Joe Sears of Greater Tuna. She also released an album by that title of the music featured in the play. Riding on the success of that project, she and Sears then wrote and produced a musical revue, Hillbilly Heaven and another play, Windblown, for which she also released an album by that title. She worked with Sears as Musical Director for his outdoor drama production of Trail of Tears for the Cherokee Heritage Center from 2001 through 2003. Today she performs comedy theatre with Jaston Williams of Greater Tuna in their improvisational story-telling comedy musical, Is There Life After Lubbock? 

Kimmie is an honorary ambassador for The Buddy Holly Educational Foundation. Based in England, the international foundation’s mission is to honor Buddy’s legacy as well as to fulfill Buddy and Maria Elena Holly’s dream of extending musical education including songwriting, production, arrangements, orchestration, and performance to new generations regardless of income, ethnicity or learning levels.  

 Kimmie visits Glastonbury, England to attend Squeeze co-founder Chris Difford’s songwriting retreat, where established singer-songwriters share knowledge and co-write with aspiring young talents. Foundation co-founders and Holly’s widow, Maria Elena Holly, celebrated Rhodes’ efforts by presenting her with a custom-made guitar crafted by famed luthier Alistair Atkin. Fellow ambassadors with whom Rhodes shares this special honor, each presented with a uniquely titled guitar, include Paul McCartney, Keith Richards, Pete Townshend, Brian Wilson, Dolly Parton, and Bob Dylan and others. 

Kimmie’s most recent album “Hypnotized” of all original songs, recorded at her own Sunbird Studios was released on March 29, 2024, and was followed by US and UK theatre dates.

Today, Kimmie continues to make her home in the Texas hill country outside of Austin and is currently working on another book, “Eat or Die,” which, in her signature humorous style, offers gourmet reminiscences and recipes gleaned from her intrepid life as a touring artist and all around “foodie.”

Kimmie spends several months each year in her second home in the South of France, writing and performing – and making plans for “what happens next.”

Kimmie is currently serving the Austin music community as an advisory board member for HOME (Housing Opportunities for Musicians and Entertainers) in order to help raise funds and awareness to ensure that Austin’s elderly musician veterans have secure housing.